If we reach 25 comments, . You have five hours from the time this chapter is posted. If we reach the goal, the next chapter will be posted in eight hours.(Valid comments must include information about what you like or dislike about the story, what you would like to see about the story, or any questions you may have about the story, as the devil is in the details.)

-----------------------------

If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

-------------------------------

Sigmarzeit-13-25-2492

Our dawi allies had kept their word: they managed to gather an air fleet to transport us toward Karaz-a-Karak. Marching all the way through the Border Princes' region was unthinkable. If we tried, sooner or later I would have had to establish a supply line, and that would have been tempting fate too much: the princes would see it as free gold, the greenskins as endless meat and sport, and the ogres wandering those lands would think exactly the same.

There was no other option but to depend on the dawi fleet and secure, through them, the permits to buy food in their markets to feed our army. Attempting to secure so much territory with my current forces would have been impossible.

My real recruitment capacity was already exhausted. I knew it well: I would have to wait a few years, with more migrations, to restore the flow of men. From the reliable population, the one I could trust without fearing a knife in the back, I had already recruited too many. The pressure was enormous: in reality, the recruitable population of my domains did not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand, and yet I already had nearly thirty thousand under my banners. A dangerous proportion.

As soon as I had the chance, I ordered the journey toward the dawi realms to begin. We loaded everything possible onto the flying barges, floating thanks to engines and huge hot-air tanks. We carried men, powder, weapons, gold… everything that could be loaded. But even so, it was obvious that this journey would require several trips: we could barely move around four thousand soldiers at a time, along with the necessary supplies to feed and clothe them on campaign.

So the whole journey was spent observing the high mountains that dominated the region, their peaks sharp and capped with eternal snow. On more than one we saw signs of greenskin clans, small fortified camps clinging to the high crags. We also spotted griffons soaring majestically on the air currents; from time to time, my own griffon dared to fly alongside the fleet, though only in short stretches to test the strength of its wings. It always kept to the margin, as if it knew it was still regaining its vigor.

The journey was relatively short, although in truth we had covered a vast distance. The aerial route allowed us to take the most direct path, avoiding dangerous passes and the endless foot marches that would have consumed weeks. The only real problem was the temperature: as we crossed the highest peaks, the cold was intense, so much so that we were forced to wear winter clothing even in the middle of summer. The icy wind pierced to the bone, keeping many of my men hunched in silence for hours.

Finally, after five long days flying over mountain ranges, watching cities reduced to mere ants from our vantage point in the skies, and reflecting on what awaited us on arrival, we at last saw the dawi mountains, our destination.

The air fleet began its descent toward what appeared to be a great aerodrome carved into the rock, designed to receive these transport ships. There, squads of dwarfs awaited us, and with impeccable efficiency they began unloading the cargo while taking strict count of the men. They were watchful that no one had tried the bright idea of jumping during the journey, something they would no doubt have taken as an offense.

I gathered my four thousand men and organized them as quickly as possible, while at the same time requesting an audience with the High King of the Karak. I knew perfectly well that, for the dawi, it would be a grave offense for a human to arrive unannounced and attempt to settle grievances on his own. Such an act would be the same as saying the clan had no strength to deliver justice for itself, and that was a direct insult to their honor. I had to present myself carefully: my intention was to help, not to usurp anyone's duty, and diplomacy was essential for them to understand the difference.

The problem, of course, was that the dawi were in no hurry to receive us. They had the courtesy to leave us waiting, forcing me to pay for lodging in dwarf taverns that mostly refused to host humans. The few establishments that accepted us did not have enough capacity to house so many men. In the end, I was forced to set up camp outside Karaz-a-Karak, with everything that entailed: discomfort, the resentment of some of my officers… and the constant risk of greenskins prowling the region.

It took almost a week before I secured an audience with the High King of Karaz-a-Karak, Thorgrim Grudgebearer, who was not very aware of what was happening for obvious reasons, and considering that I had another four thousand men on their way when the air fleet returned, in the coming days I would have around eight thousand men waiting as time passed.

Thus, the throngs of dawi clad in runic armor let me through without much trouble, aside from a few sidelong glances at my armor, and to my surprise they did not ask many questions about how I had acquired it, for being human-sized they clearly understood it was a gift given to me by the dawi people. So sometimes, it was simply a friendly question about where I had obtained my runic artifacts.

After waiting a couple of hours, a group of dawi emerged from a great hall and one of the guards, heavily warded in defensive runes, poked his head out.

"Umgi… the High King has a moment for you. Don't waste his time," said the guard, opening the door and letting me in.

Upon entering I found a huge table where a dozen dawi were gathered around one who had a book in his hands and was writing something in red ink. I quickly bowed my head in reverence.

When I entered, all the dawi rose to their feet, interrupting what they were doing for a moment as they observed what was happening. "Umgi, your name," said one of the dwarfs holding a book, ready to search for information.

"Albrecht von Reinsfeld, honorable dawi," I replied to the dwarf, who quickly began to search his book and then started speaking to his lord, who looked at me with interest.

"Are you the umgi who aided in the recovery of Karak Kronaz?" asked the High King, narrowing his eyes at me and lowering his book.

"I am, High King. I was the one who helped reclaim the ancient fortress from the greenskin threat," I replied, raising my head.

Thorgrim nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on me like the edge of an axe against stone. "Then listen well, Albrecht von Reinsfeld. In this book there are no grudges written against your name. No dawi forgets one who rises beside him against the greenskins. For that reason, you are welcome in Karaz-a-Karak, and your steps will find a seat in these halls."

He paused, the silence weighing as heavily as his words. "But understand this, umgi: every word spoken before me may be remembered within the pages of the Dammaz Kron. Do not misinterpret my hospitality. Speak without riddles… what reason brings you before the High King of the dawi?"

"I am grateful for your courtesy, High King. The reason I stand here is simple: I promised my friend Duran Snorrison, thane of a clan near my lands, that I would support the dawi cause in the recovery of the karaks lost to the greenskins, drawing on the tactical experience of many of my men in this kind of war," I answered honestly.

The dawi began speaking among themselves, though from time to time their words turned toward me.

"How many umgi march with you, son of the Empire of Sigmar?" asked the High King in a deep voice.

"For now, four thousand, High King. But soon more should arrive, reaching fifteen thousand if all goes well. They are on their way by air, thanks to the contacts of my friend Duran," I replied.

"Fifteen thousand umgi…" Thorgrim nodded slowly. "It will be welcome aid. Any who raise the axe against the greenskins deserves a place at the side of the dawi. But speak plainly, umgi… you need more than that."

"I request your authorization to act in the name of the dawi nobles. I would never think to intervene without the consent of those who carry grudges against the greenskins, nor to insult their honor. That is why I ask your blessing, High King, so that when my men join them, they do so with your sanction and that of the ancestors, fighting for the recovery of the karaks in the name of the dawi people," I said with a friendly tone.

Thorgrim fixed his gaze on me. "As I have said, all aid will be accepted. No honorable dawi will refuse the arm of an ally who has already proven his worth in battle. Your help will be received, umgi, and your name remembered among those who rose against ruin."

"I am glad to hear it. Only one more thing I must ask, High King: authorization to purchase supplies in the dawi markets. Be it through a guild patent, your word, or whatever means you deem proper. It is impossible to maintain a stable supply line from the Empire to march further south," I explained.

Thorgrim closed the Dammaz Kron firmly, his voice resounding deep in the hall. "Granted. All umgi of the house of Reinsfeld shall have my permission to trade in Karaz-a-Karak, so long as your intentions remain as you have declared: to aid in the recovery of the karaks of those clans who lost their ancestral homes. But remember this, umgi: if you fail your word… your name will be written in this book, and no oath will ever erase that debt."

"I will keep that in mind, High King. With your leave, all that I desired from this meeting is now fulfilled. I will ensure that I march once my men are gathered," I said calmly.

Before I could withdraw, the voice of the High King thundered through the hall, heavy as a hammer upon the anvil: "Do you not ask for anything in return for your aid, umgi?"

I turned and met his gaze firmly. "I would never ask for anything in return for fulfilling my duty, High King. The Cult of Sigmar teaches us to aid our dawi allies, and that is what I will do. To demand reward for duty would be dishonorable… unworthy of a son of the Empire."

The hall fell silent. The dwarf lords stared without blinking. Thorgrim remained still for a moment, then slowly began to nod. A faint smile, barely perceptible beneath his beard, crossed his hardened face.

"Well spoken, umgi," said the High King solemnly. "Words matter. But deeds weigh more. I will remember what you have said today. And if you keep it, your name will be remembered in Karaz-a-Karak with respect. If you fail…" —he laid his hand upon the open Dammaz Kron before him— "…it will be written here."

"Thank you, High King. Now, with your leave, I withdraw," I said with a faint smile, stepping out of the hall after having passed the small trap the Grudgebearer had set to measure my intentions.

I knew well that if I had asked for anything at that moment, my name would have been inscribed in the Dammaz Kron at once. The dawi never forgive one who bargains with their honor. With them, payment is claimed after aid, when their own sense of debt and honor compels them to repay. Not before.

I quickly gathered my men with the High King's written permit in hand. From that moment, no dawi refused us service or trade: the news that we marched south to aid in the recovery of the karaks spread swiftly, faster than I had expected.

We purchased provisions in the dwarven markets to spare our own reserves while awaiting the arrival of the rest of our troops. And in that time, I held talks with members of minor clans seeking our support in reclaiming small fallen karaks. Some even offered a share of their hall's riches as incentive, hoping I might direct my forces toward their lost homes. They were small fortresses, easy targets that could yield quick victories… and prestige that would no doubt prove useful in the future.

-----------------------------

If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

-------------------------------